VILLA fans have given an overwhelming thumbs up to manager David O'Leary - and a predictable thumbs down to the club's board, in the Evening Mail's exclusive survey.

VILLA fans have given an overwhelming thumbs up to manager David O'Leary - and a predictable thumbs down to the club's board, in the Evening Mail's exclusive survey.

But most supporters think better times are around the corner next season - and they have urged O'Leary to make one sensational dip into the transfer market and swoop for compatriot Robbie Keane at Tottenham, ahead of Newcastle's Craig Bellamy.

At the time of the survey a large number plumped for Scott Parker but he opted for a move to Newcastle.

Hundreds of fans responded to the Evening Mail's survey - and 61 per cent say O'Leary is the right man for the job with only eight per cent against him. Around 30 per cent were undecided.

It seems the same old criticisms are being levelled at the hierarchy, although it has to be said that the survey was carried out before Villa signed four players with an estimated £11million still in the kitty.

Almost three-quarters of fans insist they are unhappy with the way the club is being run, and nearly an identical figure say the board do not have their backing.

A staggering 85 per cent say the club are not ambitious enough, a common complaint levelled at chairman Doug Ellis, with three quarters suggesting that as much as £15million needed to be spent on the side this summer.

Again though, the survey was carried out before Ellis's heart bypass operation and before Steve Stride was installed as 'acting chairman'.

But past managers also bore some of that frustration with almost half of fans believing that the club's signings over the last five years have been 'poor'. Just four per cent thought Villa's transfer policy since 2000 had been 'good'.

But it wasn't all doom and gloom. Half of supporters think next season will be better than last season's 10th place with a slight majority believing that Villa will, for the third season running, be UEFA Cup contenders.

And it is Steven Davis that the fans are most looking forward to seeing next term - with a staggering 50 per cent plumping for the youngster ahead of another youth product, Luke Moore (six per cent), who goes into the season having just signed a long-term contract.